`Marriage is a Private Affair` Letter

To My Son Nnaemeka

May the good Lord bless you as you read my letter

I received a letter from your wife telling about the interest of your sons - my grandsons to see their grandfather . It would be unwise to tell you of my anxiety after having read that letter , for such would probably make you feel pompous that I , your father could think of you with such strange compassion . However , it would likewise be cruel not to express the strangeness that seated in my heart upon learning about the two boys

p When you were a young lad , I used to take you to the River Ryunuke very near the house of your grandfather . Once we get to the river you would ask me to let you go of your hand so you could run towards the river and have a good wash in the clear water . These moments in my mind created in me a slight fear that one day you would ask to be on your own , away from your father 's attention , or from his counsel . When you chose the woman you married , the recollections of those times I let go of your hand near the river doomed to me like mud and sand that were pushed aside by the gush of the river . Each night became a remorseful time I spent deeply thinking where I have gone wrong and what made you dissuade from my decision

But the thoughts of you in the clear water and the smile on your face as you take a plunge haunt me now more adamantly as I think of your two lads . Though incredulous of the sudden happiness in my mind , I give in to the idea of how nice it would be to see them , just like you in the clear waters of Ryunuke

At this time I am not ready to accept your wife in my house but your mother would probably be glad to do so while the two of us and my two grandsons have a small picnic at the same old river . do bring the old rod we used to catch fish with if you still have it with you , and I will ask your mother to make some barbeques and sandwiches

Reference

Achebe , Chinua (1930 . Marriage is a private affair . Retrieved September 4 , 2008 , from http /chinua-achebe .com /marriage-is-a-private-affair .htm...